By Tamica Garnett
Swimmer Henk Lowe, athlete Jevina Straker and table tennis player Adielle Rosheuvel have been selected by the Guyana Olympic Association(GOA) to participate in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to be held in Singapore in August.
According to vice-president of the GOA, Dr. Karen Pilgrim, with no athlete from Guyana qualifying, this country was then allocated four universality places for a male swimmer, one female table tennis player and a male and female athlete.
The remaining slot for the male athlete is still being considered by the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG).
While the deadline for the submission of the names of the representative athletes is in July, officials of the three associations yesterday acknowledged the participation of Lowe, Rosheuvel and Straker.
Introduced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) the first ever YOG will run from August 14-26.
The event, which has been in the pipeline since 2001 was created by the IOC in July 2007 at the 119th IOC Session in Guatemala City and is expected to give athletes between the ages of 14-18 the opportunity to showcase their skills in Olympic style competitions.
The event is expected to attract some 3600 athletes in 201 events.
No novice to the international arena Lowe yesterday told Stabroek Sport that though he is yet to be officially chosen he was very excited at the chance to represent Guyana especially at an event of such magnitude.
“Well, first of all I will be proud and happy to get the opportunity to represent Guyana,” he stated enthusiastically.
The 17-year-old University of Guyana student said that he has been using his time to step up his game. He said he practices for an hour and a half each day and hopes to perform stupendously in his events.
Straker expressed similar sentiments to Lowe as to being officially notified but the two-time Caritas Games gold medallist said she was ready to put her best foot forward adding that she was excited about the opportunity of representing Guyana on such a huge scale. Rosheuvel, who said she was informed just about a week ago, said she still has mixed feelings about attending the event.
“While I’m so happy, I’m a bit scared,” she said.“It makes me nervous, just a bit nervous because I’m the only table tennis player going. None of my other colleagues will be there to cheer me on like they always are to give me encouragement. But, other than that, I’m excited about this,” she added.
Though the AAG is still to decide on the remaining athlete president of the association Colin Boyce yesterday told Stabroek Sport that the choice had been narrowed down to sprinters Chavez Ageday and Curtis Fraser.
According to the former national sprinter, the AAG’s criteria for selection depends greatly on performances at the recent Carifta Games.
Boyce said that while Fraser did not attend the games his performances so far for the year demanded that he be considered as a possible candidate.
